Silverliner IV Center Doors

1963.

The Silverliner III's were built in 1967.

I actually think this says something positive about SEPTA, being that they keep their revenue equipment in relatively good condition and working order. NJT scrapped their Arrow II's a few years ago due to deterioration, and those cars are essentially the same exact model and age as the Silverliner IV's, SEPTA's newest MU's.

I honestly think that the II's and III's could last another 20-25 years if they were rebuilt, maybe 10 if they weren't. They could really use a new interior. Those wierd thick seats leave a lot to be desired. Even the interiors wouldn't need to be replaced if they used the II's and III's to increase headways or work extended or reinstated service. I think that would be most important.

I love the body corrogation

The IV's I think would definitely be worth putting center doors in. They might have to last a lot longer.

BTW, Are the yellowbirds still around?

Yeah but are in the curret SEPTA RRD scheme.

The Silverliner II's were built in 1963. The Silverliner III's came along four years later.

I could have sworn that somebody posted a question before me asking when they were built.

I don't know why I had to point that out. Sorry for being a dick.

PARailWiz wrote:I didn't realize they were that old. When were the Silverliner IIs built?

The Silverliner II's for both the Reading and the Pennsy were built in 1963, but I don't know the delivery order.

9001-9017 were the Reading cars.
201-219 and 251-269 were the Pennsy cars.

A few years ago, SEPTA was renumbering Silverliner IV cars into the 400's and renumbering the 9018-9031 cars into various 400 series slots and 200 and 300-series slots to fill gaps left by previous renumberings into the 400's. The plan was to take the 9001-9017 series Silverliner II's and renumber them into low 200-series slots to fill gaps.

The plan was this:

9001 to be renumbered to 210
9002-9012 to be renumbered to 240-250
9013 to be renumbered to 265
9014-9017 to be renumbered to 270-273

But the plan was quietly shelved, so they retain their Reading numbers.

Being a nostalgic old phart, I'm glad SEPTA kept the RDG numbers.

http://www.transitspot.com/gallery/SEPT ... 4_12_29_78

chuchubob wrote:Being a nostalgic old phart, I'm glad SEPTA kept the RDG numbers.

http://www.transitspot.com/gallery/SEPT ... 4_12_29_78

Heck, I just like those old Budds, period! They ride beautifully, and I have to say, that is a distinctive font used for the numberboards....

I only wish that SEPTA had kept "Reading Company" on the letterboards of car #9004 after it got overhauled in 1989. That was the last car to still be completely labeled that way. Car #269 was the last car to still have the full "Pennsylvania" letterboards intact, and they saw fit to keep that.

I'm sure the other Reading fans here would feel the same way.....why didn't SEPTA pay homage to both sides of the system instead of just one?

Silverliner II wrote: . Car #269 was the last car to still have the full "Pennsylvania" letterboards intact, and they saw fit to keep that.

Here's a photo of #269:

http://community.webshots.com/photo/274 ... 8151FCEgso

Car #218 still has "YLVANIA", on one side only.

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1107491 ... 8960XMPIhd

http://www.transitspot.com/gallery/SEPT ... 4_12_29_63

Silverliner II wrote:why didn't SEPTA pay homage to both sides of the system instead of just one?

The cynic in me says that they simply haven't gotten around to obliterating the PRR logo. With a few exceptions such as keeping the PCC-IIs in green and cream, SEPTA has rarely shown an interest in doing anything that would recall what preceeded it. Othewise we'd still have the Welcome Line, maybe a Blueliner or 2, and a center-door PSWCT car for Media-Sharon Hill.

I realize SEPTA is strapped for cash and isn't in the nostalgia business, but they seem to go out of their way to bulldoze anything that's not in the here-and-now.

SEPTA has no interest in paying homage to anyone. The fact that one car still has PA on the letterboard is by accident. In fact, they no longer refer to the 2 systems as "PRR" and "RDG", its now Northern and Southern divisions.

Although I can't figure out why the trailpasses almost always have the PRR logo on them.

jfrey40535 wrote:SEPTA has no interest in paying homage to anyone. The fact that one car still has PA on the letterboard is by accident.

Nope, it was no accident that SEPTA kept that. Car #269 had the Pennsylvania letterboards polished up and the original numberboards restored to the sides and ends of the car during its overhaul. #269 was the last car in the series, hence a good choice.

Although it IS by accident that 9004 became the last car left lettered for Reading Company, as opposed to the 9017.